Screw propeller steering and depth regulation apparatus



April 5, 1949." H. P. BROWN ET AL 2,466,635

- SCREW PROPELLER STEERING AND DEPTH REGULATION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1946 5 Shets-Sheet 1 /72 V8 nfo rs After 25.95

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BROWN ET AL SCREW PROPELLER STEERING AND DEPTH REGULATION APPARATUS A ril 5, m9.

Flled Feb. 5, 1946 Filed Feb. 5, 1946 Aprifl 5, 1949. H. P. BROWN ET AL 2,465,635

SCREW PROPELLER STEERING AND DEPTH REGULATION APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ml enfozv Attorneys April 5, 1949. H. P. BROWN ET AL 2,466,535

SCREW PROPELLER STEERING AND DEPTH REGULATION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/GS.

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April 5, 1949.

' H. P. BROWN ET AL SCREW PROPELL ER STEERING AND DEF-TH REGULATION APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 5, 1946 Patented Apr. 5, 1 949 SCREW PROPELLER STEERING AND DEPTH REGULATION APPARATUS Harold Percy Brown and Albert George Armstrong, London, England, assignors to British Motor Boat Manufacturing Company Limited, London, England, a company of Great Britain Application February 5, 1946, Serial No. 645,640 In Great Britain February 27, 1945 8 Claims. (01. 115-35) This invention relates to apparatus for use in the propulsion of ships and has for its object to provide a construction which will enable the propeller to be retracted or withdrawn within the contour of the hull when the vessel is in shallow water or is to be propelled by other means.

According to this invention the improved apparatus comprises in combination a transmission shaft rotatab'ly mounted in a substantially vertical position within the hull of the vessel and adapted at its lower end to drive a propeller about a substantially horizontal axis, means for raising this shaft with the propeller until the latter is withdrawn within the contour of the bottom of the hull, and a source of power from which the shaft and the propeller are driven and whose connection to the shaft can be maintained while the shaft is raised and lowered. In the preferred arrangement a well extending through the bottom of the vessel has its lower end open, and rotatably mounted in a substantially vertical position in this well is a power transmission shaft to whose lower end a propeller is so connected that it will be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. A source of power connected to the upper end of the vertical shaft serves to drive the propeller through this shaft and by suitable means the shaft together with the propeller can be raised and lowered in the well without disconnecting the shaft from the source of power so that the propeller may be withdrawn into the well and thus within the contour of the bottom of the vessel. The well which is arranged with its axis substantially vertical is preferably constituted by a tubular member which may be formed in two or more concentric parts which are movable relatively and telescopically. The transmission shaft is carried in the well member by one of the parts thereof which is movable relatively and telescopically with respect to one or more other parts. By suitable means the parts constituting the well member can be caused to slide relatively in the direction of their common axis thereby raising or lowering the shaft and the propeller In a preferred arrangement the well member is constituted by three parts movable relatively telescopically and connected as by rollers on radial axes which engage iscrewthreads or helical grooves in the parts so that by rotation of at least one of these parts about the axis of the well member all the parts will be telescopically extended and the shaft which is carried by one of the .parts together with the propeller connected thereto will beraised into the well. In this com struction two of the three parts of which the well member is formed are respectively provided with right and left hand screwthreads which are engaged by rollers on radial axes mounted on two of the parts so that if the intermediate tubular partis rotated relatively to the other two parts, the latter being held against rotation, the well member as a whole Will be extended or telescoped and the shaft and propeller raised or lowered.

The source of power may be an internal combustion engine which may be mounted on the upper part of the well member and connected to the vertical transmission shaft so that when this shaft is raised and lowered the engine will be similarly moved with it. In such a construction the engine may be connected to the well member and to the shaft in such a manner that it can be readily disconnected and removed either for replacement or when propulsion by the propeller is not desired. Further the mounting for the vertical shaft in the well member may be such that this mounting may be disconnected and the shaft with the propeller completely removed from the well whose lower end can then be closed by a suitably formed plug or the like.

In a modified construction the casing of the transmission shaft with the propeller and the gearing through which it is driven may be turned as a whole in a known manner about a vertical axis thus changing the direction in which the thrust is exerted by the propeller and enabling the vessel to be driven forwards, astern, or laterally. Means may be provided for fixing the axis of the propeller in one or more angular positions about the vertical transmission shaft, as for instance when going ahead or astern.

It will be understood that though apparatus as above-described is more particularly intended to be constructed as a complete unit including the engine mounted on and movablewith the vertical shaft, if desired the source of power may be disposed apart from the well member and vertical shaft with a suitable connection to the latter which will permit of the raising and lowering of this shaft with the propeller without disconnecting the shaft from the source of power. For example, in one arrangement the source of power may be an electric motor from which the drive is transmitted through flexible shafting to the vertical shaft in the well. Alternatively there may be a fixed engine in the vessel from whose crankshaft a drive is transmitted through bevel or like gearing and a sleeve member keyed to but slidable in the axial direction upon the vertical shaft so as to permit the latter to be raised and lowered without disturbing the connection through which the drive is transmitted thereto from the engine. The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example a construction which may be employed when carrying the invention into practice. In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a retractable mounting according to this invention for a propulsive unit comprising an engine, transmission shafting and propeller, the apparatus being shown with the well-like structure which carries the propulsive unit telescoped so that the propeller is lowered into a position in whichit can be operative to drive the vessel in which the apparatus-is installed. The well-like structure is shown in section, but the propulsive unit in-elevation and appears as viewed from astern. Y

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation similar to Fi ure 1, but showing the retractable mounting extended upwards with the propulsive unit withdrawn intoithe well-like structure so that .the pro.- peller ;now lies within the contour'of the "bottom of the .vessel. This figure shows the wholeapparatusras seen from the right hand sidein Figure 1 the .parts in section being viewed in a .plane at rightangles to the plane in which they are seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectionalplan on the horizontal line 3'3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 isa side elevation of the uppermost section of the three-part telsc'opic well structure, thispart being held against rotation while being moved in the axial direction.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the central and intermediate section of the well "structure by the rotation of which theextension ortelescoping of the several parts is effected.

Figure 6 is asimilar view of the lowest section of the well structure which is fixed in the bottom of the vessel and'within'this part lie the intermediate and uppermost portions when they have been telescoped to lower the propulsive unit so that :the propeller may be operative.

Figure 7 is a part-sectional vertical elevation showing a construction of the transmission to the propeller as arranged to allow the propeller to be swung, about the 'axis of the vertical transmission shaft for the purpose of altering the direction in which the :propeller is to exert its thrust. The figure also shows an arrangement which permits power to be transmitted 'from a separate source outside the well structure, as for example through flexible 'shafting so that the connection to the source of power, for instance an electric motor, can be maintained while the propeller and its shafting is raised or lowered.

The whole well structure is built up of three tubular sections A, B and C of suitable length which fit one within the other being all relatively movable in the direction of their common axis. In addition to this relative axial movement the intermediate section B is rotatable, but the sections A and Care held againstrotation. Thelowermost section A has an external flange A through which it can be bolted to some convenient part D of the bottom of the vessel so that the open lower end A ofthe section lies in acircular opening in the skin of-the vessel where 'the propeller is to be located. The end A maybe shaped to conform with the contour of the hull of the vessel at this place. In the wall of the upperend part of the section A'there'are a series of sockets A at least three in number and equally spaced apart circumferentially. Each socket contains a plug E which carries -a bearingipin E with a roller B which projects inwards beyond the cylindrical inner surface of the section A the rollers thus being free to rotate about axes which are radial with respect to the axis of the section.

The iintermediate tubularsection B is a sliding fit. within the lowermost section A and in it outer surface and in the thickness of its wall is formed at least one and preferably more than one helical groove B these grooves together constituting multiple quick pitch s'crewthreads each of square section; see Figure 5. In these grooves B lie the rollers E mounted within the section A. The

arrangement is-such that if the section B is rotated relatively to the section A the section B will either beraised within the section A so as toproject beyond the upper end of the lower section, or if rotation is in the opposite direction the section B will 'be lowered and telescoped into the section A. Preferably a sealing ring 13 is placed in an annular groove B in the exterior of thetsection B towards its lower end so as to prevent theipassage of water between this section and the wall-of the lowermost section A. In .the upper end portion of the section -B are circumferentially spacedsockets Bgineach of which is a plug F carrying "a bearing pin F with a roller F rotatable on :this pin whose axis is radial with respect to the axis of the section -B. These rollers F project on the inside of the section 'B.

and beyond its inner :cylindrical surface in the same way asthe rollers-E are described above as.

prcjectingwithin the lower section A The third and upper most tubular section C is a sliding fit within the intermediate section B-and like that section has on its exterior and in the thickness of its wall helical grooves C which form quick pitch screwthreads each of square section'asseen in Figure 4. These grooves C are adaptedvto contain the rollers F which project within the section B. The screwthreads formed'by the grooves B in thesection Band those formed by the .grooves C in the section'C areoppositely directed as may be seen in Figures land-5 the threads formed by the grooves 'B bei-ngright-handed while those formed by the grooves-C are left-handed. The sectionC is econ-P veniently- 'provided with a sealing ring C which lies in a groove C formed in the exterior of the sectionnearits lower end.

Attached to and projecting laterally from the lowermostsection A is anarmG 'which carries 'a vertical guide rod G lying parallel with the common axis of the telescopicallyslidingsections A, B and'C. Asomewhat similar :arm G is com nected to andiprojects radially from the upp end of the uppermost section C, and this am carries a guide sleeve-(l "within which'li'es-and can slid the guide 'rod- G This guide :prevents the section 0 from rotating relatively to the lowest section A while'the three sections are be.- ing moved in the axial direction. This movement is eifectedby rotation of the intermediate section-Band toenableithis to be done 'a shaped annular member B 615 suitably mounted on the upper end of the section B this member B 'forming a hand wheel which can be grasped when the section B is to be-turned; when this section is turned in one direction the :three'sections will be telescoped sliding one within the other into the positions in which the parts are shown in Figure -1 when :the propeller lies "below-the bottom D of the vessel'where it can be operative to .propelithe Vessel. "If the section 'B is then turned in the opposite -direction the sections will move one within the other rand the well structure win he extended until the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in Figure 2 where the whole propulsive unit carried by the wellstructure is raised so as to bring the propeller into the well and within the contour of the bottom of the vessel. If desired this rotation of the section B may be eifected by power.

At a suitable place in the length of the uppermost section C and preferably towards its lower end there is within it an inwardly directed flange C of convenient width and on this flange rests a flange H which extends outwards from and around a part J of the casing enclosing the transmission shafting of the propulsion unit."

The unit is held down on the flange C and in a manner which permits of its being readily disconnected for removal, by the following arrangement. from points diametrically opposite on this flange are two substantial pins or pillars H each of which is adjustable in length and carries pivoted at H at its upper end a lever H shaped as can be seen in Figure 3. Each of these levers H can be swung so as to bring part of it under a lug C mounted on the upper end of the section C, the under surface of the lug or the upper surface of the lever being slightly inclined so as to have a I 'well opening through the bottom of the vessel.

When the unit is placed in the well structure and about to be secured there its correct circumferential position is located by means of an arm J which projects radially from the casing J and is adapted to lie in a corresponding slot G in the arm G projecting from the upper end of the section C.

The propulsion unit considered as a whole is conveniently of a known type and in this case is shown in the drawings as comprising an egine K which drives a vertical transmission shaft enclosed in the casing J. At its lower end the drive is transmitted through bevel gearing to a short horizontal shaft on the end of which is the propeller L. Figure 7 illustrates a known arrangement which may be used with the present invention to enable the propeller to be swung about the vertical transmission shaft so as to enable the vessel to be propelled forwards, astern or laterally. In this construction the engine is not mounted above and directly connected to the vertical transmission shaft M as in the construction of propulsive unit shown in Figures 1 and 2. At its upper end the shaft M is driven through bevel gearin from a short horizontal shaft N the end of which can be coupled as by means of a splined sleeve to a flexible shaft or other connection to a separate motor which may be an electric motor or internal combustion engine suitably mounted near by. The shaft L on one end of which is the propeller L is driven through bevel gearing from the shaft M and the propeller shaft L is carried in hearings in a casing O which is fixed on the lower end of a sleeve 0 which surrounds the vertical shaft M and runs up within the casing J wherein the sleeve is rotatable. On the upper end of the sleeve 0 is a chain wheel and the chain 0 passing round this wheel runs Projecting upwards from the flange H,

also round a chain wheel P on a short vertical shaft P which through bevel gearing can be turned by means of a hand wheel P Rotation of the hand wheel P will cause the propeller shafts L to be swung into any angular position about the vertical shaft M and thus the direction in which the thrust of the propeller L is to be exerted can be altered. The flange J around the casing J may rest on the flange 0 within the uppermost section C of the well structure and be there fixed in some convenient manner. If, as mentioned, the shaft N is connected to the source of power through flexible shafting this will permit the raising and lowering of the propeller and the transmission mechainsm shown in Figure 7 so as to retract or lower the propeller for use.

It is to be understood that wherein the above description mention is made of a propulsion unit, this expression is to be taken as meaning either a complete propulsion combination of engine, driving shaft and propeller in a well-known form, or a construction in which the vertical driving shaft and propeller are mounted in the well mem-- ber and the source of power is disposed outside and the drive therefrom transmitted to theshaft and propeller by suitable means such as indicated above. The whole propulsion apparatus together with the whole well member may in some cases be regarded as a unit and supplied as such being in a form ready assembled and only needing to be placed in the vessel and bolted down.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l; A ship propulsion unit comprising in combination a cylindrical tubular casing composed of at least two telescoping parts relatively move able axially and provided with sealing means at all sliding joints therebetween, this casing being mounted with its axis approximately vertical in the hull of the vessel and with the ends of the casing open, said casing forming a well-like structure, means for moving the parts of the casing relatively in the axial direction whereby the overall length of the casing can be reduced or extended, a transmission shaft rotatably carried in the said casing with its axis substantially parallel to that of the casing, a propeller rotatable about an axis at right angles to that of the said shaft with means for driving the propeller as the shaft rotates, the said casing when the parts thereof are extended raising the said shaft with the propeller until the propeller is withdrawn within the contour of the hull but when the length'of the said casing is reduced by telescopic relative movement of the parts thereof the propeller will be lowered into a position in which it can be operative to propel the vessel, a source of power, and a connection between said source of power and the upper end of the said transmission shaft whereby power transmission to the propeller will be maintained while the said shaft is raised and lowered.

2. A ship propulsion unit comprising in combination a cylindrical tubular casing composed of at least two telescoping parts which are relatively movable axially and one of which is rotatable, this casing being mounted with its axis approximately vertical in the hull of the vessel with the ends of the casing open and forming a well-like structure, means for rotatingsaid rotatable part relatively to other parts of the said casing, means whereby such relative rotation will cause relative movement of the casing parts in the axial direcpeller is withdrawn within the contour of :the

' running in.a direction opposite ,to the grooves on tion and ahereby reduce :or extend: the-overall lengthiof'the casing, a transmission :shaft rota-t ablyzcarriedin .the upper-part sof said casing lwith itslaxisssubstantially parallel to .that of the casing, aapropeller rotatable about an axisat ri ht angles tolthat of the .said shaft withmeans fordriving the propeller as the-shaft rotates-theaxial length oisaidacasing-parts when extended maislllg :the said :shaft with the propeller until the propeller is withdrawnwithin the .contour, of :the. hull, :the length ofsaid. shaft whenilowered by telescoping the casing exposing. the propeller beneath the hull in operative position to :propel the latter, ,a source a of power, and =a ,connectlonrbetween said source of powerand the upperendof fiflidtrans; mission shaft, whereby power. ltransmiseion :to the propeller will be maintained while the :saidshaft i ra sed andlowe ed- 3. ,A ship propulsion, unit comprising .inv combinationza cylindrical tubular'casing constructed inlthreesections all of which are relatively movable l-telescopically and 0f which :at least one vis rotatable relatively to the other sections, said casing lbeing mounted with its axis approximately vertical inthe hull of the vessel with the ends of the casing open, said casing formin a well-like structuraa spiral groove formation resemblinga screwthread on the exterior of two of the said casing sections the grooves on one part running in'a direction opposite ,tothe grooves Onthe other part, at least two radially projecting members carriedby each of two o'f'the said casing-sections and engaging the spiral grooves on the grooved casing sections, means 'for'rotating oneof=the said casing sections -relatively to-the other twosections of 'the casing thereby moving the three sections of the casing axially relatively to each other .and the overall length of the casin will the reduced or extended according to the "direction in "which the said casing'section'is rotated; a transmission shaft rotatably mounted in the said casing and cerried-bytheuppermost of the three-said casing sections, the axis of this transmissionshaft being substantially parallel-to thatof the casing, a :propellerrotatable aboutan axis at rightanglesto that "of the said shaft with means for driving the-'propeller'as the shaft rotates, the said casing when the sections thereof .are extended xraising thesaid shaft with the propeller :until :the 1pm,-

.hull but when the length of the .saidrcasing is reduced by Ltelescopic :relative movement of .the sections the propeller willzbe lowered into aaposi- .tionLin -Which it .is operative to .propel theavesse'l, 'a-souroe lofzpower and a connection between said source l of "power and 'the upper end :of :the said transmission shaitwhereby n wero'transmissionato the {propeller will .be maintained-while :the said shaft israised-and lowered.

4; -A ship propulsion unit comprising in acom- 'bination a cylindrical ,tubular casing constructed inthree sections-all of whichlare relativelymovable telescopically, said casin being mounted ,with its axis approximately vertical in the ,hull of :the

tqrmations resembling screwrthreadson the ex.- teriorsof .the intermediate and of ,the uppermost sections of the casing the grooves onlone section he h r s c n. t lea t di projectin members ,carried'by the lowermost of the .three said sections-and similar members carried by-the said intermediate section, these proj ecting "mem- "hers respectively engagingthe spiral grooves "on themxte ia o the i termed ate and u p s soctionszof the saidlcasing, meansionholding the lowelmostand :the uppermost sectionspf $118888- ins against rotation, means for rotatin :the said intermediate .-section relatively 120 :the upper and lowersections wherebythe engagement of the-said radially projecting members with'thesaid spiral grooveswmoves the three-sections of the "casing relativelyin (the axial direction, and reduces or extends the overall length of the :said tubular casing :according 'to the direction ,in wh ch the said intermediate section is rotated, a'transmisv sion shaft :rotatably fdiSPDSEd in the said casing and :carried bythe uppermost of zthf: said three sections :.with :the .axis of this rshait substantiall paraHel-tmthatnf;theicasinmapropellermotatable about axis atright angles do that 0: the axis of thetsaid shaft with means for :driving the propeller :as the shaft qrotates, the said casing whernthesectionsithereoiare extended raising the said shaft witi'rthe {propeller until the propeller isixwithdrawn within the contour of the hull but whenithe length-of the casing zis reduced by relative ztelescopic movement of the said zthree sections the propeller will :be lowered 'into a positioniin which it is :oper'a'tivte to propel the vessel; a source of;power,1and a :connection between saidvsource .of power and ithe :upper end of the said transmission .shait, whereby power transmission :to the propeller will be maintained while the said shaft raised :and lowered.

25. Aship propulslonzunitvas set out1in claim 2 wherein the transmission shaft is 'detachably mounted in-ithesaid rtubular 'casing and thelshaft with .the propeller :at one end ,and the connection to thesourceof power at the otherend :thereof constitute a xunitary assemblage removable from the teasing as .a unit.

6. A ship propulsion unit as set out in claim 3'wherein thesource of power comprises an internal "combustion engine mounted at the upper end-of the said transmission shaft and which with the propeller and-the shaft form a complete unitary assemblage detachably mounted in the uppermost section of the said'tubular-casing.

'7. A ship propulsion unit as set out in claim 3 provided with means for turning that portion of the propulsion mechanism comprising the transmission shaft and the propeller with its shaft about a vertical axis in the said casing, thereby changing thedirection in which propulsionis efiected.

iii .A hull propulsion unit comprising in com- .bination a tubular casing composed of at least ,two telescoping parts, water tight .packing (means between said parts permitting relative sliding movement between them, theouter one of said parts being mounted over an aperture .in the bottom of the :hull with its axis approximately vertical, means forclosing the joint between said outer-part and hull surrounding said aperture, the lower ends of said telescoping parts being .open to vthe water to :form a vertically extensible well-like structure supported-within the hull, a transmission :shaft :disposed :axially within said well-zlikestructurevand rotatablysupported in the iuppcr :one idf said :telescoping parts, said shaft projecting :belowrthe .hull bottom in the .lower position of :said upper telescoping part, a "pro- -peller rotatable about an-axis at right angles to that of said shaft and mounted for rotation in *bearing means supported at thelowerend-thereof, means for turning said bearing means aboutzthe axis of said shaft, said bearing means and pro- HAROLD PERCY BROWN. ALBERT GEORGE ARMSTRONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Harvey Jan. 12, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Sept. 10, 1923 

